Final answer:
Before reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, Shaw v. Reno was heard in the U.S. District Courts, which ruled on issues related to redistricting and racial gerrymandering. The Supreme Court's decision applied strict scrutiny to race-based redistricting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The case of Shaw v. Reno was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that had implications for redistricting and racial gerrymandering. Before reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, it was first heard in the U.S. District Courts. In its decision, the Supreme Court ruled that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause. This verdict set a precedent that race-based redistricting must have a compelling government interest and be narrowly tailored to meet that interest.